Device for handling printed sheets



7 sheets-sheet 1` RTTORNEYS.

Aug. 24, 1954 w. E. sooY ETAL DEVICE FOR HANDLING PRINTED SHEETS Filed May 24, 1949 Aug. 24, 1954 W E SOOY ErAL DEVICE FOR HANDLING PRINTED SHEETS Filed May 24, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

FIaZ,

Allg. 24, E' SOOY ETAL DEVICE FOR HANDLING PRINTED SHEETS Filed May 24, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS.

[4f/aren f'. Saa): BY Sed/Arafo Soar ATTORN EYS,

Aug. 24, w. E. SOOY EVAL 4 DEVICE FOR HANDLING PRINTED SHEETS Filed May 24, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS.

Aug.r24, 1954 W; E SOQY ETAL DEVICE FOR HANDLING PRINTED SHEETS 7 Sheecs--SheetI 5 Filed May 24, 1949 f9.9 ze; .x35

zag

ATTCRN SYS.

Aug. 24, 1954 w. E. sooY ET AL DEVICE FOR HANDLING PRINTED SHEETS 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 24, 1949 w IJ IN VEN TORS ML TEF? E, so@ K, Eem/wea 5. Saa Y ATTORNE YS.

Aug. 24, 1954 w. E. sooY ETAL 2,687,301

DEVICE FOR HANDLING PRINTED SHEETS Filed May 24, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG, 31.

ATTORN EYS- Patented Aug. 24, 1954 ICE y DEVICE FOR HANDLING PRINTED SHEETS v Walter E. Sooy and Brainard E. Sooy, Middletown, and Joseph Kramer, Reading, Ohio, assignors to The Gardner Board and Carton Co., Middletown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 24, 1949,' Serial No. 95,008

16 Claims.

Our invention deals generally with the problem of handling and protecting printed sheets, espe, cially in accumulating them at the delivery end of a printing press. The principal object of the invention is the provision of a means and method for handling freshly printed sheets to avoid smearing and offsetting both from relative movement of the sheets with respect to each other,

and from the pressure of printed sheets in a stack while the ink thereon is not fully dried, as Well as the protection of the surfaces of the sheets from general mechanical damage. While it is thus an object of our invention to prevent the destructive contacting of sheet surfaces, we do not object to contacting under pressures insuiiicient to cause smearing, marring, offsetting and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a means and mechanism whereby printed sheets may be handled and accumulated in convenient multiple units for further handling and transportation, but without the surfaces of the sheets being exposed to contact with one another under conditions of accumulative pressure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a means and mechanism for the automatic accumulation of printed sheets at the end of a press with the advantages set forth above.

`These and other objects of the invention which will be set forth hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specications, We accomplish by that procedure and in that arrangement and construction of parts of which we shall now describe an exemplary embodiment, having to do with the accumulation of boxboard sheets after printing but before cutting and scoring in the general operation of box making, it being understood that the utility `.of our invention is not conned to such sheets or such an operation. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the delivery end of a printing press embodying the features of our invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View taken along the section line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a. horizontal sectional view of the same mechanism taken along the section line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a partial side elevational view of the mechanism at the end of our assembly, certain parts being shown broken away.

Figure 5 is a partial vertical sectional view taken along the section line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan View of a belt guiding and positioning mechanism.

Figure 7 is an elevational view thereof with a part in section, the section being taken along the line l-'l of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an elevational view of a vacuum y disc for moving the sheets, the shaft being shown in section.

Figure 9 is a sectional View of the same disc taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a partial longitudinal section of a valve mechanism.

Figure l1 is a transverse sectional View thereof taken along the line Ii-II of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is also a transverse sectional View thereof taken along the line |2-l2 of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a partial transverse section of a means for driving an accumulating platform, and is related to the section line I3-I3 of Figure 1.

Figure 14 is a transverse sectional view of the same apparatus taken along the section .line lli-M of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a partial perspective view showing one mode of engagement of the straps with an end column on a platform.

Figure 16 is a top plan view of a loaded platform.

Figure 17 is a lateral elevational view thereof.

Figure 18 is a horizontal sectional View of the cushioned guide means provided for the rack rod of the pusher shoe.

Figure 19 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of modied means for driving an accumulating platform.

Figure 20 is a side view, partly in section, taken along the line 20-20 of Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a transverse section taken along the line 2|-2l of Figure 19, means for supporting the drive screw for the accumulating platform.

Figure 22 is a perspective view of the means by which the accumulating platform is driven by the screws.

Figure 23 is a plan view of modified means for `guiding sheets onto the accumulating platform.

Figure 24 is an enlarged plan view of the leading edge of the modified guide means.

Figure 25 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Figure 24.

Figure 26 is a transverse section taken on the line 2%-26 of Figure 23.

Figure 27 is a plan view of an accumulating platform loaded with sheets according to our invention.

Figure 28 is a side view of a portion of our apparatus showing the use of substantially vertical guide members for directing sheets from the direction changing means to the accumulating platform. v

Figure 29 is a plan view, partly in section, of modified means for guiding sheets onto the accumulating platform.

Figure '30 is an. enlarged View showing a modiiication or addition to the device 26 of Figure 1.

Figure 31 is a side view of the device of Figure 30 as seen from the right in that figure.

Briefly, in the practice of our invention we accumulate printed sheets at the end of a press or other treatment apparatus in such a way that the surfaces of the'sheets are either kept substantially separated one from another Without the provision of physical spacers therebetween or are allowed to touch without smearing motion and without such pressure as would cause offsetting. By printed sheet We mean one printed or coated as with ink, varnish, lacquer or any other substance which easily rubs, smears, mars, offsets and so forth in its undried condition on the paper or board surface. This, we have found, can be accomplished by changing the direction of movement of the sheets, and by accumulating them upon a platform or other suitable base in an onedge or vertical position. The sheets are rigidiiied against collapse by maintaining in them an arcuate curvature by the engagement of their side edges with certa-in supports hereinafter to be described. These supports also maintain the position of the sheets frictionally, so that their surfaces do not contact one another under conditions of accumulative pressure. The platform or other accumulator may be moved during the accumulating operation, and when it is full, means are provided to maintain the position of the sheets during transportation and further handling, or until the ink or other substance on the surface of the sheets has sufficiently dried.

Referring to Figure l, we have indicated at I the frame of the end of a printing press which may be of any suitable variety, such as a at bed cylinder press or a rotary cylinder press, and capable of printing one or more colors. A superstructure |5 and supports iii and Il maintain rails I8 (one on each side of the press) at an upper delivery level. The press may be equipped with a conventional delivery conveyor i9 at this upper level and suitably driven from the press mechanism, as well as a sheet delivery mechanism comprising pivoted and mechanically actuated arms 2B, links 2| and a carriage 22, riding on the rails I8, and provided With means 23 for engaging the ends cf printed sheets 2A and carrying them to the end of the delivery level.

Hitherto in press assemblies of this type, the sheets 24 have been delivered to a series of sticks or movable supports 25 which, after they have received a sheet, move out of the Way and permit the descent of the sheet onto a receiving platform located therebelow. In some press structures means for raising and lowering the receiving platform have been provided to minimize the distance of descent of the sheet.

In the practice of our invention, and in the illustrated in Figure 3.

application of our mechanism to a printing press of this type, we eliminate the mechanism hitherto provided for raising and lowering the platform, and we iix the supports 25 in position or provide other permanent supports for the sheets, our purpose being to deliver these sheets olf the end of the delivery level hereinabove described.

At the end of the delivery level we provide a vacuum roll or its equivalent in a number of vacuum discs mounted upon a shaft (one of which discs is indicated at 26 in Figure l) which will engage leading portions of the moving printed sheets 24, change their direction of motion, and deliver them downwardly in a vertical path. It will be understood that the sheets 24 come oft' the press with their printed sides uppermost, so that the vacuum discs do not engage that side of the sheets which has received fresh ink in the printing operation, At the end of the upper delivery level of the press we may if desired provide adjustable roller guide means indicated at 2l for assisting the leading edge of the sheets to conform to the vacuum roll or vacuum discs.

It will also be understood that in connection with the carriage 22 the conventional means Will be provided to release the sheet engaging devices 2S so as to free the sheets when they are engaged by the vacuum discs. At each side of the vertical path of travel of the sheets we may provide vertical side guide elements of U-shape indicated at 2S and 2Q. These may be adjustably mounted on brackets 33 and 3| on rods or shafts 32 eX- tending across between the side frames I1 of the delivery end of the device. This construction enables the guides 2B and 29 to be moved to accommodate different Widths of the printed sheets 2, the sheet as engaged by the guides being in flat vertical condition as most clearly Moving down the side guides, when it is released by the vacuum disc or cylinder Eii, the sheet comes to rest with its lou-'er end upon a platform 33. It is also within the scope of our invention to use conventional edge gripping means rather than the vacuum cylinders 29 above described.

Equivalent mechanisms for taking over the movement of the sheets and changing the direction of their movement from a horizontal to a vertical direction may be employed, such for example as grippers moving on chains or discs, as will be evident.

As shown in Figure 28, instead of the U-shaped side guides 28 and 29 we may use a series of strips 2M tilted slightly towards the direction changing means employed. As a sheet is discharged from the direction changing means its leading edge will be thrust slightly forward thus causing it to lean against and be supported substantially iny a vertical position by the strips 201.

The sheet as so positioned lies in front of a pusher or shoe member 34 occupying the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. This shoe may comprise a single member as shown or a plurality of vertical strips fastened together, one of which may be seen in Figure 28 at 34a. When the sheet has come to rest with its lower edge upon the platform 33 this 'shoe is actuated to move forwardly to the position shown in the solid lines. This action moves the sheet out of engagement with the guides 2B and 29 or strips 20'! and, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, into engagement with one or more belt members on each side, indicated at 35 and 36. Adjacent the guides, these belts lie in slanting positions 35d and 36a; but the effective straight and parallel portion of these belts has a spacing between the guides 28 and 29. As a consequence as the printed sheet is pushed forward from the dotted line position 24 in Figure 3 to the solid line position 2da in the same gure, the sheet is bent arcuately in a horizontal direction as will be clear. It is thereby stiifened and prevented from collapsing by bending or folding on horizontal lines; and it is thereafter frictionally engaged and held at its side edges by the belts 35 and 3S.

An alternative arrangement for use in guiding the sheets onto an accumulator platform is shown in Figures 23 to 2'?. Instead of the guide belts 35 and 33 we use rigid member |53 and |54. As seen in Figure 26 we provide three of these members at each side of the platform but the number used does not constitute a limitation of our invention. Each of the guide members |54 is fixed to a pair of vertically disposed brace members |55. Each of the brace members |55 is fixed to the ends of a pair of rods |56. These rods are slidably mounted in clamps |51 which are adjustably mounted on posts |58 which are xed to .the floor at four pointsabout the ma-y chine as best seen in Figures 23y and 26. lIt is to .be understood that the members |53 are similarly arranged.

Fixed to the receiving ends of the members |53 and |54 are a pair of arcuate pieces |59 and |60. Each of the arcuate pieces |59 and |69 is provided with a horizontally mounted, freely rotatable spur gear or the like |6| and |62. The detail of. this arrangement is best seenn Figures 24 and 25. The spur gears |6| and |62 aid inthe receiving of sheets from the pusher 34 and in starting them between the members |53 and As in the case in which belts 35 and 36 are uti-- lized, the members |53 and |54 are spaced apart a distance less than the width of the printed sheets and less than the spacing between the guides 26 and 29. In this manner the sheets are made to assume an arcuate shape and thereby stifened and held in frictional engagement between the members |53 and |54 as is the case when the belts 35 and 36 are used.

It will be seen that the pusher shoe 34 contacts the rear face of the sheet 24, i. e. the face which does not bear a fresh coating of` ink. When a sheet has been positioned as at 24a, the shoe 34 returns to the dotted line position prior tothe delivery of another sheet, as will be morefully described hereinafter. It is a feature of our invention that the platform 33 is moved forwardly a certain distance after the delivery of 'each sheet (or continuously) so that the sheets accumulate between the belts 35 and 36, these belts being drawn out from reels as the platform moves. In that modification of our invention last described these sheets will, o'f course, accumulate between the members |53 and |54. In either of these Ways, the sheets accumulate in proper relationship upon the platform without any marring of the freshly'printed surfaces of the sheets.

fIn Figure 29we have disclosed yet another arrangement for guiding the sheets 24 onto an ac' 'cumulator platform. In this arrangement `the rigid guide members |53 and|54 may comprise threaded pipes 228 and 2|9 so that as the'she'ets are pushed there between they" are positively maintained in position by the threaded portions o'f such pipe. In this latter modication' the pipes 2|'8 and 2|9 are extended Without the guides |59 and |69 (or the rails |53, |54) to a position much closer to the members 28 and 29-or the members 201 as the case may be. (In Figure 29'we `have indicated the presence of the members 28-4-29 as well as the members 291 simply to illustrate their relative position with respect to the pipes 2 |8- 2|9. In practice we would ordinarily use leither one or theother of `suchguides forthe substantially Vertical movement ofA the ysheets In place of the members |59 and 6|) of Figure 23 We utilize air jets 220 and 22| (Figure 29). These jets perform the same function as the members |59-|69. The jets 22| re located above the pipes 2|8-2l9 and are directed downwardly. The jets 220 are located in theends of these pipes. These jets 220 and 22| thus combine to prevent the printed surfaces of the sheets 24 from striking the ends of the pipe guides ZIB-2|!! as the pusher 34 or 34a pushes such sheets from the guide members 28, 29 or,.201- as the case may be.

The device 26 may be in the form of a vacuum cylinder, but is most conveniently arranged asa plurality of Vacuum discs rigidly affixed to l a rotating shaft 31. The purpose of the device .is

' coincide with the slot 49.

6, to-engage the vsheets on theirunder sides by the vacuum as they are delivered at the upperdelivery level horizontally, and change their mode of motion to a vertical one with their edges engaged by the side guides 28l and 29. As a consequence, to accomplish this, the device 26 must engage the leading end of the sheets 24 and deflect it downwardlyinto the guides 28 and 29, but must release the leading end of the sheet when this has been accomplished, while retaining driving relationship with other portions of the sheet until all parts of it have been introduced into the side guides. Hence automatic means must be provided both to effect and to release the vacuum engagement of the cylinder or disc with the sheets depending upon the rotative position of the cylinder or discs. Referring to Figure 2, the vacuum discs 26, 26a, 2Gb etc. are mounted upon a shaft 31 which is journaled in bearings 38 and 39 in the side frame members |1 of the end extension of the press. The shaft may be fitted with a sprocket 40 connected by a chain 4| to a lower sprocket` 42 on a stub shaft 43. Timed rotary motion will thus be imparted to the shaft 31 through motion transmitting means hereinafter described, from the main drive of' the press. Near one end of the shaft 31 we provide a valve mechanism for the'control of the vacuum. This mechanism` is indicated generally at 44 in Figure 2, and isdetailed in Figures 10, 11 and l2. A cupshaped member 45 Ahaving a central hub is nonrotatively affixed to the bearing 38 as by a set screw 46. A vacuum chest 41 is constructed against the rear face of the member 45 from suitable metal parts welded or otherwise fastened together. This Vacuum chest may occupy somewhat more than a quadrant, and will be connected to a vacuum mechanism (not shown) by a conduit or tube 43. The wall of the member 45 is provided with arcuate slot 49 communicating with the vacuum distribution chest 41; and its inside face-is alsoprovided with a similarly slotted slip ring 5|) held in place by screws 5| or otherwise. A cooperating ange member 52, havinga hub,` is-non-rotatively ailixed to the shaft 31, as by a set screw 53. The member 52 preferably conforms closely at its periphery tothe edge of the member l5-to keep dust from the valve mechanisminside. This valve mechanism comprises the slip 'ring 59 with its slot`49, already described, and another slipring 54 which will slide over the surfacev `of. the rst: ring as the member. 52 ro'- tates with respect to the member 4 5. The second 'slip'ring 54 lis mounted upon the' flange member 52 Aby means ofl studs 55; andv coiled springs 56 servertolpress-the slip' ringstogether.

.Asbest shown in Figure l2, the slip ring 54 is provided with a series of ports 51. During the relative rotationof the members 45 and 52, it will be clear that these ports will come opposite the slot 49 in the slip ring 56, thus providing a Valving action in which the several ports 51 are connected with the vacuum chest 41 in those angular positions of the shaft 31 in which the ports The ports will be connected with ports 58 suitably arranged in the peripheries of the vacuum discs 26, 26a, etc. so as to cause the discs to engage and release the sheets 24, as described above. v Any suitabletubing may be employed for these connections. The shaft `31 may be provided with a central bore 59 tofwhich one of the ports 51 is connected by a tube 60, as in Figures 8 and l0. Y In that event one of the ports 58 of each of the vacuum discs Will be connected tothe bore of the shaft byva tube indicated in Figures 1, 2, 8 and 9 at 61. Others of the ports 51 in the second slip ring will be connected to longitudinal conduits 62 paralleling the shaft 31 and connected to others of the ports 58 in the vacuum discs 26 by tubing 63. The operation of this mechanism, as will readily be understood, is to produce vacuum engagement ben tween portions of the sheet 24 and the vacuum discs 26, 26a, etc. at the several ports 58, to cause the rotating discs to move the sheets 26 from a horizontal path to a vertical path, delivering them into the side guides 28 and 29, and releasing the vacuum engagement selectively as the several portions of the sheets are delivered into the side guides.

The several vacuum connections may be valved individually as 54 so that the vacuum discs 26, 26a etc. may be rendered selectively inactive for the purpose of adjusting the mechanism to sheets 24 of different widths.

In connection with the above described device we may also provide, as is illustrated in Figures 30 and 3l, means to positively insure that the vacuum discs will properly grasp the printed sheet. Compressed air is forced into the conduit 208 by any suitable means. Fixed to the shaft 31 is a cam plate 209. Slidably mounted on the shaft 31 is another cam plate 210. Plate 209 is provided with an arcuate slot 21! and plate 210 with a projection nicely fitting this slot and having a nut 212 by means of which the plates 209 and 219 may be secured together. Thus we are able to adjust this cam to various positions by loosening the nut 212 and sliding the plate 211).

A suitable air valve 213 is provided with a spring maintained plunger 214, said plunger being adapted to be operated by the cam 209-210. A header element 215 is also provided. From this header a series of air jets or nozzles 216 depend, each being positioned above one of the discs 26, 26a etc. Each of the nozzles 216 is valved individually as at 211 so that these nozzles may be rendered selectively inactive for the purpose of adjusting the mechanism to sheets 24 of differing widths.

Thus we have provided means to insure the proper functioning of the discs 26, 26a etc. for as each of the vacuum cups comes into play the sheet 24 is forced into contact therewith by means of the air jets 216. When the plunger 214 is depressed by the cam 209-210 the valve 213 is closed and the air cut off.

As above stated conventional edge gripping mechanism may be employed in place of the vacuum arrangement we have shown, and in its broadest aspects our invention is intended to include such a structure.

As most clearly shown in Figure 1, the stub shaft 43 bears a sprocket 65 which is connected by a chain 66 to a sprocket 61 on a stub shaft 68. This stub shaft is journaled in any suitable way, as in a bracket 69 on the floor. The stub shaft 68 bears a sprocket 10 (Figure 13) which is connected by a chain 11 to a sprocket 12 on a stub shaft 13 journaled on the frame 1 of the press. This stub shaft also bears a sprocket 14 which is connected by a chain to the main drive of the press by a suitable set of gears (not shown).

The pusher shoe 34 is mounted upon a rack rod 16 which is engaged in a slide 11, as most clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3. One end of this slide is mounted upon the upper rod 32, and the other is mounted upon a rod 18 extending across between the frame members I1. As shown in Figures l, 4 and 5, a gear wheel 19 has teeth meshing with the teeth of the rack bar 16. rIhis gear wheel is mounted upon a shaft B9 journaled in brackets 81 on the side frame members 11. The shaft 89 adjacent one of its ends bears a pinion 62 which is engaged by the teeth of a gear segment 83. The gear segment is xed to a stub shaft 84 journaled in a bracket 85 on an end frame member of the machine. In Figure 2 it will be clearly seen that the shaft 3'.' bears a cam member 85 having a cam track 81. A lever 88 is iixed to the stub shaft 84 (Figure 1) and has a cam follower engaged in the cam track 81. As the shaft 31 revolves, the gear segment 83 will be rocked by this mechanism, and in turn will produce the' timed movement of the pusher shoe 34 which has been described above, and which results in pushing the sheets 2da from the side guides 28 and 29 and engaging them in arcuate configuration between the belts 35 and 36.

It is to be understood that other suitable means, such as an air cylinder for example, may be provided to actuate the sheet pusher 311.

In connection with the rack rod mechanism we have provided for effecting movement of the sheet pusher as above described, we have also provided additional lmeans to insure accurate movement of the pusher 34. As best seen in Figures l, 4 and 18 this means comprises a double dash pot arrangement indicated generally at |63. The double dash pot comprises a cylinder |64 provided with a longitudinal slot 165 in one side thereof. Thisl cylinder is mounted on the machine by means of a bracket 168 fixed to a pair of angle members 166 and 161 fixed to the members 11. The bracket 168 is provided with a leg 169 depending from one of its ends and supported by the angle member 161, The other end of the support |68 is suitably xed to the angle member 166. The cylinder 164 of the double dash pot 163 is fixed to the support i153 by suitable bolts or the like.

Referring now to Figure 18 it is seen that the cylinder 1611 is provided-at each of its endswith caps having a regulator valve 11| and air release valve |12 mounted therein. Mounted for sliding movement within the cylinder |611 is a piston rod 113 having cup shaped piston members 114 xed to each of its ends. Suitably secured centrally of the shaft between the two members 114 is a rod 115. This rod |15 may be so secured by means of a sleeve 115 provided with a hub 116m and xed to the piston rod 113 by means of nuts 111, the rod 113 being threaded for this purpose. The rod 115 extends out through the slot |65 within which it just nicely ts. At its outer end the rod 115 is threaded so that it may be securely xed in a threaded hole in the rack rod 16 and locked by means of a nut 118.

As will be apparent from an examination of Figure 18 the double dash pot operates as follows: As the pusher 34 moves forwardly, the piston rod 113 does likewise. During the rst part of such movement air within the right hand portion of the cylinder escapes through the slot 165. When the member 1111 has passed the end of this slot, however, the air in this end of the cylinder will begin to compress, thus cushioning the movement of the piston rod 11S and rack rod 16. The amount of cushioning obtained may be regulated by means of the valve 111. When the pusher 34 is returned to starting position air is admitted to that portion of the cylinder just described through the conventional air inlet valve |12. In similar manner a cushioning eifect is also ob- 9 tained at the return position of the pusher 34, rack rod 'I6 and piston rod ||3. This arrangement providespositive control and guidance of the rack rod I6 during the actuation of the pusher 34.

For that modification of our invention wherein we provide for the use of guide belts 35 and 36 we mount, on each of the vertical end frame members Il, a vertical shaft or rod 89 in brackets 90 and 9|. This is detailed in Figure 4. Reels indicated in this gure at 92 and 93 are provided for each of the belts in the sets 35 or 36. As

vmany belts in each set may be provided as desired. We have illustrated two. The reels 92 and 93 are either journaled on the vertical rods 89 or on collars 94 and 95 xed to these rods adjustably by set screws. The belts may thus be shafted vertically to accommodate diierent lengths of the sheets 24. The reels 92 and 93 have ytorsion springs indicated at 96 and 9?. One of the ends of each of these springs is amxed to one of the reels 92 or 93, while the other ends of the springs are iixed'to collars 98 or 99. These collars have set screws whereby they ymay be held on the rods 89; and they are preferably also -provided with hand wheels and |0| whereby their positions may be adjusted to control the tension on the belts. It willbe understood that the springs 06 and 91 urge the reels 92 and 93 rotatively in directions to take up the belts 35 and 36 and hence tension the belts.

On the platform 33 we provide forward posts |02 and |03. These are engageable in sockets on the end member of the platform; and we provide several such sockets |04, so that the positions of the posts may be adjusted for sheets of different widths. The posts are provided with means whereby the belts may be engaged with them. As shown in Figure 15, one way of doing this is to provide adjustable spool-like elements |06 mounted on the posts, and providedA with hooks I0`| for engagement with loops or eyes I 08 on the ends of the belts 35 or 36. lThe radial thickness of the spool-like elements |06 xes theforward end of the planes of the belts somewhat away from the surfaces of the posts, for a purpose which will be set forth hereinafter.

To x the inner ends of the planes of the belts, which also must be done in an adjustable manner, we provide ears |09 and IIO on the collars 94 and 95. Rod members III and II2 (Figure 3) are engaged in the perforations in these ears, and may be held by set screws I I3 and I I4 (Figure 4). heads indicated in Figures 6 and 7 at II5; and these heads have vertically extending stub shafts I I6. For each head we provide a rocker arm I I1 having a hub I I8 surrounding the stub shaft I I 6, and provided with a setscrew |I9 whereby its position thereon may be fixed. Adjacent each end of the rocker arm III, we provide upwardly eX- tending stub shafts |20 and I 2|, and on these we rotatively mount spool or sheave elements |22 and |23. As will be most clearly understood from Figure 3, a belt 36 passes from the reel 92 over the sheaves |22 and |23 before passing forwardly to engage the spool element |06 on the post |02.

The rod members III and II2 carryVA The sheave elements |22 and |23 change the path of the belt, and establish the slanting portion 36a which, coacting with the pusher 34, rst establishesthe arcuate condition of the sheets 24a asV they. are thrust forwardly.

, As has already been explained, the platformv 33r moves forwardly as the sheets 24a accumulate on from the reels 92 and 93 but remain in tensioned condition by reason of the springs 96 and 97, so that the belts 35 and 36 maintain the positions of the accumulating sheets by frictional engage-- ment with their edges.

The platform element 33, with the exception of the socket members |04 and |35 at one end, and corresponding socket members |24 and |25 at the other, can be the ordinary or conventional platform member used for accumulating printed sheets flatwise at the end of a press, as has hitherto been done. It will be equipped with the usual legs 33a which hold it above the floor and permit it to be engaged rand moved by the conventional elevator-equipped trucks. In that modication of our invention wherein we dispense with the belts 35 and 36 the general arrangement of the platform element 33 does not change materially. The posts |02 will differ only in that the spool and hook arrangements |06 and |07 will be omitted. The manner of retention of the sheets on the platform in each modification will be described in detail hereinafter.

We shall now describe suitable mechanisms for l moving the platform as the sheets 24a accumulate thereon. Figures 1, 13 and 14 show one form of, such mechanism.

In a suitably shaped recess |26 in the oor |2'| we provide a conveyor for each pair of the legs 33a of the platform 33. The length of the effective portions of these conveyors will be such that the platform may be located initially under the delivery end of the press and then moved forwardly as the sheets accumulate on it at least substantially its own length and preferably one and a half or two times its length, as will be readily understood. In their most convenient form, the conveyors are belt members |28, supported throughout their working flights by closely spaced rollers |29. The belts have forward sheaves |30, and rear driving sheaves |3I, together with supplementary sheaves |32 to keep the belts in contact with the driving drums I3I and ISIa, and such intermediate supports for their return flights as may be required. These are rollers indicated at |33.

A housing may be provided for the combined conveyor mechanisms, and may be formed from suitable pieces lof plate metal welded together. The housing is indicated at |34. It will be understood that the working nights of the conveyors are exposed upwardly. 1

The driving drums |3| and I3Ia, may be mounted upon a shaft |35 which is journaled in depending ears or brackets |36, |36Ia, |3612` etc.

welded to an upper plate of the housing |34. The" shaft |35 carries a worm gear |31 which meshes with a worm |38 on a shaft `|39 journaled in brackets |40 and |4| on the bracket |36.

'Ifhe shaft |39 also carries a ratchet wheel |42 afxed to it. A rocker arm |43 is rotatably mounted on Ithe shaft, and carries a pawl engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel |42. The rocker arm |43 is connected by a link or pitman |45 with a crank |46 on the stub shaft 68. `It will` be seen therefore that the conveyors comprising the belts |28 are linked up mechanically with the drive of the press and with the mechanism hereinabove described for accumulating the sheets on the platforms. The mechanism is synchronized, and as each sheet is delivered edgewise to the platform, the platform is moved forwardly a sufficient distance to assure a desired separation of the sheets as they accumulate. To this end the crank |46 is made adjustable so that 11 the radius of rotation can be varied from zero up to a full stroke which would impart approximately 90 of rotation to ratchet wheel |42. By changing the radius of rotation of crank |45, the oscillating stroke of pitman |45 is varied, therefore varying the number of ratchet teeth engaged by the pawl. Thus the intermittent forward motion of the platform can be varied to meet any condition or requirement.

In practice the platform 33 is placed in position at the rear of the machine, even while the press is running and delivering sheets, to a platform being loaded. When it is desired to change platforms, a motor |41 coupled to the shaft |39 is used to run the mechanism forward, thus putting the empty platform in position for loading and running the loaded platform forward out of loading position and into a location such that a truck can remove it. 1n this manner continuous operation of the press can be adequately handled.

An alternative method of driving the platforms is shown in Figures 19 to 22. In this arrangement the legs of the platforms rest directly on a series of rollers |19 suitably mounted in the floor. Also set in the floor between the two rows of rollers |19 are a pair of screws |80. A covering IBI is provided for the greater part of the openings in which these screws are located, there being, however, a rectangular opening |82 left at the rear end of each screw. For each screw there is provided a threaded half-sleeve |83 to be driven thereby, each of said sleeves having a lug |84 projecting centrally from its outer portion, said lugs having a narrow stem portion |55. A bar |86 extends across said lugs being fixed thereto by means of bolts or the like |81. The opening |82 is just large enough to receive the sleeves |83 and the lug |84 carried by the sleeve just nicely fits a slot |88 provided in the covering |8|. When the screws are driven in a manner shortly to be described, the half-sleeves |83 are moved forward and with them the bar |85 which rests against the legs of a platform positioned on the rollers |19, thus moving the platform.

As best seen in Figures 19 and 20, each of lthe screws |80 is supported at its rear` end by a bracket |89 and bearing |93 in which it is journaled. As seen in Figure 2l the screws |80 are supported at their other ends by rollers |90 mounted in a suitable bracket |91 fixed in position on the mechanism by bolts |92.

Pinned at |94 to each of the screws |50 is a ratchet wheel |95 having a hub |93. On a sleeve |91 freely rotatable with respect to the screws |80, there is fixed a rocker arm |58. Centrally pinned to each of the arms |98 is a ratchet 'pa-wl |99 engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel |95. A tie rod 200 is pinned to the ends of both the rocker arms |98 so that movement of one such arm will cause a corresponding movement of the other. To one of these arms, as seen in Figure 19, there is also pinned the link or pitman |55 previously described and shown in Figure 13. It will be seen therefore that the conveying screws |80 are linked up mechanically with the mechanism hereinabove described for accumulating sheets on the platforms. The mechanism is synchronized, and as each sheet is delivered edgewise to the platform, the platform is moved forwardly a sufficient distance to assure a desired relationship of the sheets as they accumulate.

As also seen in Figure 19, a gear 20| is mounted on one of the screws |80. This gear is driven by the motor |41 which is provided with a gear 202 for that purpose. A sprocket 203 is pinned to each screw and these sprockets may be joined by a chain or the like. Thus when the motor |41 is actuated both of the screws are simultaneously driven thereby for the purpose of running the mechanism forward in order to position and move the platforms as previously described.

We have hereinabove described how the sheets 24a accumulate upon the platform as it is moved forwardly. The sheets are maintained in the arcuate formation, whereby they are stiifened, through the action of the tensioned belts 35 and 36 or the rigid members |53 and |55 as the case may be. When a full complement of sheets has accumulated upon a platform, we locate other posts |40 and |50 in the sockets |24 and |25 at the rear end of the platform, as will be seen in Figures 16 and 17. We then engage rods |5| and |52, which may be of metal or wood, with the side edges of the accumulated sheets, resting these rods in hook members |48 provided on the several posts (see Figure 15). The sheets are now rretained in position by the rods |5| and |52, and

it becomes possible, in one modification of our invention, to disengage the several belts 35 and 35 from the spool elements |06. The belts thereupon are taken up by the reels 92 and 93. The platform may be engaged by the elevator of a suitable truck and carried away from the press to a suitable position of storage, where the ink can be allowed thoroughly to dry while the sheets remain in positions out of destructive contact with one another. A fresh platform may be delivered to the conveyor belts |28 as hereinbefore described. The belts 35 and 36 are then engaged with the spool elements |05 on posts |02 and |03 inserted in the sockets on the leading end of the fresh platform, and the operation is repeated. We have hereinabove described how the operating instrumentalities may be adjusted for sheets of varying dimensions.

In that modiiication of our invention wherein we use the rigid members |53 and |54. fixed to rods |56 adjustably mounted on posts |58 at the sides of the machine, the procedure is somewhat different. One of the posts |50, see Figures 23 and 26, is so arranged that after the retaining rods |5| and |52 have been inserted the members |54 may be swung to one side so that a truck may approach a loaded platform from the side, thus effecting a saving in space. In order to effect this, the post |58 above referred to is made in two sections, one such section being bolted to the floor as at 204. Nicely fitting the two sections of the post is a sleeve 205 pinned to the upper section as at 205. When it is desired to swing the members |54 to one side, the pin 205 is pulled out, the sleeve 205 dropped and the upper section of the post swung to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 23. It is to be understood that there may be other ways of accomplishing this result without departing from the spirit of our invention. For example, the posts |58 might be positioned in sockets from which they could be unscrewed in order to permit the bars |551 to be swung aside.

In the modification incorporating the use of belts 35 and 35 the retaining rods |5| and |52 may easily be fixed to the posts |02, |03, |49 and |50 by reason of the fact that the pulleys |05 project farther out from the posts than do the hooks |48. In that modification wherein the rigid members |53 and |54 are used, this same ease of insertion is obtained by reason of the fact that the members |53 and |54 are made large enough in cross-section, see Figure 26, to enable the rods `13 l! and |52 to pass freely between the sheets 24 and braces |55.

While we have disclosedlour invention in connection with a printing press, it will be clear that its utility is not confined thereto, and that it may be employed in connection with any mechanism wherein sheets are formed or have their surfaces treated, and wherein it is desired to maintain the sheets in separated condition suicient to protect their surfaces and yet at the same time accumulate them in large groups suitable for transportation and storage. After the sheet surfaces have dried, the horizontal pile may readily be converted to a vertical pile for subsequent operations if desired.v

Modifications may be made in our invention without departing from the spirit of it. Having thus described our invention in an exemplary embodiment, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A .process of accumulating sheets out of accumulating pressure contact with each other which comprises feeding said sheets atwise vertically until their lower edges rest upon ay platform, said sheets being supported by substantially vertically extending guide members, and pushing said sheets horizontally from said guide members and between retaining members contacting the side edges of said sheets and spaced apart less than Ythe width of said sheets whereby to impart a curvature to said sheets, and for each sheetso fed moving said platform forwardly a distance at least equal to the thickness of a sheet, and moving said sheet edge contacting means forwardly a like amount.

2. A process of accumulating printed sheets without oifset, which comprises feeding said sheets flatwise horizontally in spaced relationship, changing the motion of said sheets to a vertical downward direction, and feeding said sheets in said direction adjacent lsubstantially vertical guides until their lower ends contact a platform, then horizontally pushing said sheets from said guides and between edge retaining members spaced apart horizontally less than the width of said sheets, and concurrently with the feeding of said sheets moving said platform and said edge contacting means forwardly for each sheet a distance at least equal to the thickness thereof, so that said sheets are accumulated on said platform out of destructive surface contact with each other.

3. In apparatus for the purpose described, means for feeding sheets flatwise individually downwardly to bring their lower ends into contact with a support, substantially vertical guides for engaging the sheets as so fed, a pusher for pushing the sheets laterally from said guides, an elongated element located to receive said sheets between them and to contact the side edges of said sheets when said sheets are pushed from said guides, said elements being spaced from yeach other less than the width of said sheets whereby said pusher causes said sheets to assume an arcuate. configuration whereby they are stiiened, and means for moving said support forwardly in the direction in which said sheets are pushed by a distance for each sheet at least equal to the thickness thereof whereby said sheets are successively arranged between and Vheld by said elements out of destructive surface contact with each other, said elements comprising belts engaging at their ends posts on said support and said belts being provided with reels, maintaining tension on said ,belts and paying said belts out when said support mOVeS.

4. The'structure claimed in claim 3 including defecting means for said belts located adjacent said substantially vertical guides and serving to dispose portions of said belts adjacent said guides slantwise to the direction of motion of said sheets as produced by said pusher whereby to provide a constricting throat to assist in the arcuate curvature of said sheets..

5. The structure claimed in claim 4 wherein said feeding means comprise a rotary vacuum device for engaging said sheets when in fa horizontal position and moving them into said vertical path of travel, said vacuum device having a plurality of ports, and valve means for controlling the engagement and release of said sheets.

6. The structure claimed in claim 5 wherein said vacuum device is mounted upon a driven shaft, wherein said pusher is slidably mounted for a'path of travel beginning atone side of said substantially vertical guides and ending on the other, wherein said shaft bears a cam and wherein a camfollower engaging said cam is operatively connected with said pusher to move it in timed relationship with the movements of said vacuum device.

7. The structure claimed in claim 6 wherein said support is a platform having legs and wherein said means for moving the support comprises a pair of conveyors upon which said legs rest, and means for moving said conveyors in timed relationship to the movements of said vacuumdevice and pusher.

8 The structure claimed in claim 7 wherein said platform has sockets at each end, said posts being inserted in said sockets at the forward end of said platform, wherein said belts are detachably engaged with said posts, wherein other posts may be engaged in the sockets at the rear end of said platform, wherein said several posts have hooks, and wherein bar-like supports may be engaged with said posts by means of said hooks to support the side edges of anaccumulation of sheets; whereupon said belts may be disengaged and said platform with the accumulated sheets thereon may be removed from said conveyors.

9. In combination with a printing press having a horizontal end delivery on which printed sheets are delivered with their printed face uppermost, rotary feeding means for engaging and'feeding said sheetsflatwise individually into a vertical path of travel, substantially vertical guides to engage said sheets in said vertical path and to guide them therein until their lower ends come to rest upon a platform, a pusher mounted for horizontal reciprocation in a path of travel beginning at one side of said guides and ending at the other, said pusher acting to dislodge sheets from said guides and move them in a horizontal direction, flexible members for engaging side edges of said sheets as so moved and spaced apart less than the width of said sheets so as to impart a curvature `to said sheets as moved between them by the pusher and to retain said sheets by engagement with their side edges, said vertical guides being located away from the receiving ends of said flexible members, and synchronized driving means for said sheet moving means and said pusher, spring reels for said flexible elements, means for moving said platform and a drive for said last mentioned means synchronized with movements of said moving and pushing means.

10. In apparatus for the purpose described,

means for feeding sheets atwise individually downwardly to bring their lower ends into contact with a support, substantially vertical guides for engaging the sheets as so fed, a pusher for pushing the sheets laterally from said guides, rigid elongated elements located to receive said sheets between them and to contact the side edges of said sheets, said vertical guides being located away from thereceiving ends of said rigid elements, said rigid elements being spaced from each other less than the width of said sheets whereby said pusher causes said sheets to assume an arcuate coniiguration whereby they are stiiened, and means for moving said support forwardly in the direction in which'sa-id sheets are pushed by a distance for each sheet at least equal to the thickness thereof whereby said sheets are successively arranged between and held by said rigid elements out of destructive surface contact with each other, the said rigid elements located at one side of the apparatus being mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis.

11. In apparatus for the purpose described, means for feeding sheets atwise individually downwardly to bring their lower ends into contact with a support, substantially vertical guides for engaging the sheets as so fed, a pusher for pushing the sheets laterally from said guides, rigid elongated elements located to receive said sheets between them and to contact the side edges of said sheets, said vertical guides being located away from the receiving ends of said rigid elements, said rigid elements being spaced from each other less than the width of said sheets whereby said pusher causes said sheets to assume an arcuate configuration whereby they are stiffened, and means for moving said support forwardly in the direction in which said sheets are pushed by a distance for each sheet at least equal to the thickness thereof whereby said sheets are successively arranged between and held by said rigid elements out of destructive surface contact with each other, the sheet receiving ends of said rigid elements being provided with outwardly extending arcuate guide members.

12. The structure of claim 11 in which at least one of said arcuate guide members is provided with a rotatable toothed wheel to aid in receiving the sheets as they are pushed between said rigid elements.

13. In apparatus for the purpose described, means for feeding sheets flatwise individually downwardly to bring their ends into contact with a support, substantially vertical guides for engaging the sheets as so fed, a pusher for pushing the sheets laterally from said guides, and elongated elements located to receive said sheets between them and to Contact the side edges of said sheets when said sheets are pushed from said guides, said elements being spaced from each other less than the width of said sheets whereby said puhser causes said sheets to assume an arcuate configuration whereby they are stifened, and means for moving said support forwardly in the direction in which said sheets are pushed by a distance for each sheet at least equal to the thickness thereof whereby said sheets are successively arranged between and held by said elements out of destructive surface contact with each other, said support comprising a platform having legs and said means for moving the support comprising a pair of roller conveyors upon which said legs rest and a pair of screws provided with nuts moved thereby, said nuts operatively engaging said legs, and means for turning said screws and moving said nuts in timed relationship to the movement of said pusher.

14. In apparatus for the purpose described, means for feeding sheets ilatwise, individually downwardly to bring their lower ends into contact with a support, substantially vertical guides for engaging the sheets as so fed, a pusher for pushing the sheets laterally from said guides, and elongated elements located to receive the said sheets between them and to contact the side edges of said sheets when said sheets are pushed from said guides, said elements being spaced from each other less than the width of said shets whereby said pusher causes said sheets to assume an arcuate configuration whereby they are stiffened, and means for moving said support forwardly in the direction in which said sheets are pushed by a distance for each sheet at least equal to the thickness thereof whereby said sheets are successively arranged between and held by said elements out of destructive surface contact with each other, and a double dash pot, a rack rod for said pusher and an operative connection between said rack rod and a piston member provided within said dash pot.

15. In apparatus for the purpose described, means for feeding sheets fiatwise, individually downwardly to bring their lower ends into contact with a support, substantially vertical guides for engaging the sheets as so fed, a pusher for pushing the sheets laterally from said guides, and elongated elements located to receive said sheets between and to Contact the side edges of said sheets when said sheets are pushed from said guides, said elements being spaced from each other less than the width of said sheets whereby said pusher causes said sheets to assume an arcuate configuration whereby they are stiffened, and means for moving said support forwardly in the direction in which said sheets are pushed by a distance for each sheet at least equal to the thickness thereof whereby said sheets are successively arranged between and held by said elements out of destructive surface contact with each other, and air jets provided adjacent the receiving ends of said elongated elements whereby said sheets are prevented from striking the ends of said elongated elements.

16. The apparatus of claim 5 in which air jets are provided above said rotary vacuum device to force said sheets into operative contact with said ports.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Num-ber Name Date 709,515 Scott Sept. 23, 1902 1,041,808 King Oct. 22, 1912 1,107,556 Iurck Aug. 18, 1914 1,282,838 Hudson Oct. 29, 1918 1,603,294 Reiser Oct. 19, 1926 1,685,945 Drake Oct. 2, 1928 1,845,324 Finn Feb. 23, 1932 1,902,436 Joachim Mar. 21, 1933- 1,985,697 Stetcher Dec. 25, 1934 2,026,101 Royster Dec. 31, 1935 2,087,704 Potdevin July 20, 1937 2,141,914 Hosmer Dec. 27, 1938 2,163,732 Kleineberg et al. June 27, 1939 2,277,924 Morrison Mar. 31, 1942 2,288,523 Grups et al June 30, 1942 2,441,912 Streich May 18, 1948v 2,517,388 Daves Aug. l, 1950 

